Removing Genital Warts
Genital warts, which are of course an STD caused by the HPV (human papillomavirus), can be potentially very uncomfortable. Although they’ve been known to just disappear after a bit of time with no treatment, it is probably in your own best interests to get rid of them as soon as possible. When you first notice this problem, visit your physician straight away to talk about possible genital warts removal options.
Your options will depend on where your genital warts are and how large they are. If the outbreak is not too serious, your doctor will probably prescribe a topical cream. These creams vary in their use. Some, such as Imiquimod, are applied on a regular basis to the area. Others may require you to apply the cream and then wash it off after a certain amount of time.
Most creams, however, are not an option for women who are pregnant, who are trying to get pregnant, or who suspect they may be pregnant. The active ingredients in some genital warts creams, podofilox and podophyllin, can be absorbed by the body and passed along to the unborn child. This can lead to birth defects and other complications. Likewise, creams with 5-fluorouracil should not be used by those trying to get pregnant.
For small genital warts, burning, freezing, and laser treatments are all options. These options are often more expensive than creams, but they are sometimes the only options if the warts do not respond to the applied medication. Likewise, large genital warts may need to be removed in one of these ways if they do not vanish after a certain amount of time.
Another option is a direct injection of the drug interferon-alpha, an antiviral that can be introduced into the genital wart. This is often the best option to remove warts that have returned after other treatments have been used. However, interferon-alpha is a fairly expensive drug, and there is absolutely no guarantee that the genital warts will not return even after being injected with it.
The only way to permanently get rid of genital warts is to remove the HPV from your body. Until recently, this was not an option. However, new studies show that it is possible to either cleanse or suppress HPV, removing the possibility of genital warts returning.
Disclaimer: Nothing contained in this article is intended to be used as medical advice and it is not intended to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, nor should it beused for therapeutic purposes or as a substitute for your own health professional’s advice.